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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 





















TALES FROM 
STORY-TOWN 

by 

MINA PEARL ASHTON 

•I 

Primary Teacher, Defiance, Ohio 
Author of Story-Book Tales 



Illustrated by 
LUDWIG and REGINA 


BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 

CHICAGO 

I.G.; 


Copyright 1930, by 
BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
All rights reserved 



Printed in the United States of America 

15 

©CIA 32198 


JR. V- 


Contents 

PAGE 


The Pigs and the Giant . . 7 

Read and Tell . . .17 

Ride Away . . . . . 18 

The Greedy Dog .... 19 

Read and Tell .... 23 

The Owl and the Grasshopper . 24 

Read and Tell .... 29 

Pussy Cat.30 

The Little Clock. . . .31 

Sly Fox and Gray Goose . . 32 

Read and Tell . . .39 

A Riddle.40 

Why Rabbits Have Brown Coats 41 
Read and Tell . . .47 


3 



Hush-a-Bye, My Dolly 

PAGE 

. 48 

The Little Maid . 

. 49 

North Wind 

. 50 

Read and Tell 

. 61 

’Tis the Wind 

. 62 

Lady Spring 

. 64 

Read and Tell 

. 73 

The Weather 

. 74 

Billy! Billy! .... 

. 75 

The Tree .... 

. 76 

Read and Tell 

. 85 

Sleep, Baby, Sleep! 

. 86 

The Owl and the Birds 

. 87 

Read and Tell 

. 93 

V and I 

. 94 

Mr. Frog and Mrs. Mouse 

. 95 


4 





Read and Tell 

PAGE 

. 103 

The Toad and the Frog 

. 104 

Two Men and a Tree . 

. 106 

Read and Tell 

. 109 

Gray Wolf and Sly Fox 

. 110 

Read and Tell 

. 121 

Who Is the Strongest? 

. 122 

Read and Tell 

. 135 

My Little Brother 

. 136 

The Old Crow 

. 137 


5 





The Pigs and the Giant 

There were three Little Pigs. 
They lived in a barnyard. 

They were hungry. 

They wanted something to eat. 

Little Wee Pig wanted 
to go to the woods. 

He wanted to eat acorns. 

He wanted to get fat. 


7 




Big Giant lived in the woods. 
Little Wee Pig went 
to the woods. 

He found some acorns. 

He ate and ate. 

He went on and on. 

He went far into the woods. 

Little Wee Pig met Big Giant. 
How frightened 

Little Wee Pig was! 

Big Giant said, 

“You are a nice little pig. 

I am hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

I will eat you.” 



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9 






























Little Wee Pig said, 

“Please do not eat me. 

I am little. 

My brother is coming. 

He is bigger than I.” 

Big Giant said, 

“Very well, you may go. 

I will not eat a little pig, 
if I can get a big pig. 

But keep out of my way.” 

Then Little Wee Pig 

ran back to the barnyard. 

The next Little Pig wanted 
to go to the woods. 

He wanted to eat acorns. 


10 




11 




He wanted to get fat. 

So Little Pig went 
to the woods. 

He found some acorns. 

He ate and ate. 

He went on and on. 

He went far into the woods. 

Little Pig met Big Giant. 

How frightened Little Pig was! 

Big Giant said, 

“You are a nice little pig. 

I am hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

I will eat you.” 


12 


Little Pig said, 

“Please do not eat me. 

I am little. 

My brother is coming. 

He is bigger than I.” 

Big Giant said, 

“Very well, you may go. 

I will not eat a little pig, 
if I can get a big pig. 

But keep out of my way.” 

Then Little Pig 

ran back to the barnyard. 

The next Little Pig wanted 
to go to the woods. 

He wanted to eat acorns. 


13 


He wanted to get fat. 

So Little Pig went 
to the woods. 

He found some acorns. 

He ate and ate. 

He went on and on. 

He went far into the woods. 

Little Pig met Big Giant. 

How frightened Little Pig was! 

Big Giant said, 

“You are a nice little pig. 

I am hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

I will eat you.” 


14 


Little Pig was frightened. 
He thought and thought. 
He said, “0 Big Giant! 
Roast pig is not good 
without an apple 
in its mouth.” 

Big Giant said, 

“You are right. 

But I have no apple. 

I can not get one. 

I will just eat you.” 

Little Pig said, 

“I can find an apple. 

I will get one for you. 

I will run fast.” 


15 



“Very well,” said Big Giant. 
“I will wait here. 

You may get the apple. 

But hurry back.” 

Then Little Pig ran home. 

He ran back to the barnyard 
as fast as he could go. 

The three little pigs 

never went to the woods 

to eat acorns again. 

16 


Read and Tell 

Who lived in the barnyard? 

Three little pigs lived 
in the barnyard. 

Where did they go? 

They went to the woods. 

Who lived in the woods? 

Big Giant lived in the woods. 

What did Big Giant want? 

He wanted to eat 

the three little pigs. 

What did the three little pigs do? 
They ran back to the barnyard. 



Ride Away 

Ride away, ride away, 
Johnny shall ride. 

He shall have Pussy Cat 
Tied to one side. 

He shall have Little Dog 
Tied to the other. 

And Johnny shall ride 

To see his grandmother. 

18 




The Greedy Dog 

Once there was a big dog. 
He was hungry. 

He wanted his dinner. 

He found some meat. 

He wanted it all alone. 

He was greedy. 

19 






He ran and ran. 

He ran to a brook. 

There was a low bridge 
over the brook. 

He went on the bridge. 

He looked down. 

He saw another dog in the brook. 
He saw the meat, too. 

Big Dog said, 

“Bow-wow! bow-wow! 

There is another dog. 

He has some meat, too. 

I want it. 

It is a bigger piece than I have. 

I will get it.” 


20 



I 



Big Dog tried to get the meat 
from the dog in the brook. 

He opened his mouth. 

He dropped his meat. 

It fell into the brook. 

Splash! splash! 

Big Dog lost his meat. 

He lost his dinner. 

Big Dog said, “Bow-wow! bow-wow! 
I did not think. 

I have lost my meat. 

I have lost my dinner. 

After this I will leave 
other dogs alone.” 

And he did. 


22 


Read and Tell 

What did Big Dog find? 

Big Dog found some meat. 

What did he want? 

He wanted to eat it all alone. 

Where did he go? 

He went to the brook. 

What did he do? 

He dropped his meat 
into the brook. 

Was Big Dog happy? 

No. He was greedy. 

He lost his dinner. 


23 


The Owl and the Grasshopper 

Wise Owl lived 

in a hollow tree. 

He would fly around at night. 
He would sleep in the day. 

Grasshopper Green lived . 

in the tree, too. 

He would sleep at night. 

He would sing in the day. 

His song awoke Wise Owl. 

Wise Owl could not sleep. 

He blinked his big eyes. 

He was not happy. 

He was very cross. 


24 



Wise Owl came out of his house. 
He looked around. 

He said, 

“Please, Grasshopper Green, 
do not sing so loud. 

I can not sleep.” 

Then he went back into his house. 


25 





But Grasshopper Green sang away. 
He liked to sing. 

He sang and sang. 

He sang louder and louder. 

How happy he was! 

Wise Owl thought and thought. 

He said, 

“I will get Grasshopper Green. 

I will have him for my dinner. 

See if I don’t.” 

Then Wise Owl came out 
of his house. 

He saw Grasshopper Green. 

He blinked his big eyes. 

He sat very tall. 


26 




Wise Owl said, “Who! Who! 

Good morning, Grasshopper Green! 

You have a sweet voice. 

You sing very well. 

I love to hear you sing. 

Please come into my house 
and sing for me.” 

How pleased Grasshopper Green was! 

He walked into Wise Owl’s house. 

He began to sing. 

Then Wise Owl 

took Grasshopper Green 
in his big bill. 

And that was the end 

of Grasshopper Green. 


28 


Read and Tell 

Who lived in the tree? 

Wise Owl and Grasshopper Green 
lived in the tree. 

What did Wise Owl do 
in the day time? 

Wise Owl would sleep in the 
day time. 

What did Grasshopper Green do 
in .the day time? 

Grasshopper Green would sing 
in the day time. 

What did Wise Owl do 
to Grasshopper Green? 

Wise Owl ate Grasshopper Green. 

29 


Pussy Cat 

Child. Pussy Cat! Pussy Cat! 

Pussy Cat. Meow! meow! 

Child. Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, 
Where have you been? 

Pussy Cat. I have been to London 
To visit the queen. 

Child. Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, 

What did you there? 

Pussy Cat. I frightened a little 
mouse 

Under her chair. 


30 



The Little Clock 

There’s a neat little clock, 

In the schoolroom it stands, 
And it points to the time 

With its two little hands. 

And may we, like the clock, 

Keep a face clean and bright, 
With hands ever ready 
To do what is right. 


31 





Sly Fox and Gray Goose 

Gray Goose was by the lake. 

She sat down. 

She shut her eyes. 

She went to sleep. 

Sly Fox came by. 

He saw Gray Goose. 

He took her in his mouth. 

And he ran away. 

How frightened Gray Goose was! 
Gray Goose said, 

“Hiss, hiss, hiss! 

Let me go! Let me go! 

Oh, please let me go! 

Hiss, hiss, hiss!” 


32 


But Sly Fox ran on. 

He ran and ran. 

He ran faster and faster. 
Soon he was far, far away. 

At last he laid her down 
on the ground. 

He put his big paw on her. 
He held her fast. 

He looked at Gray Goose. 
He snapped his jaws. 

How Sly Fox laughed! 

He laughed and laughed. 

Gray Goose said, 

“Hiss, hiss, hiss! 

Hiss, hiss, hiss! 

33 


Oh, please, Sly Fox! 

Let me go! Let me go! 

Oh, please let me go! 

I never harmed you.” 

Sly Fox looked at Gray Goose. 
He opened his mouth wide. 
Gray Goose saw his big teeth. 
He snapped his jaws. 

He shook his head. 

He thought and thought. 

Then Sly Fox said, 

“See here, Gray Goose. 

If you were a fox 

and I were a goose, 
what would you do?” 

34 




Gray Goose was wise. 

She said, “Hiss, hiss, hiss! 

I will tell you. 

I would shut my eyes. 

I would fold my hands. 

I would say a prayer. 

Then I would eat you.” 

Sly Fox said, “Good! 

That is just what I will do.” 
He looked at Gray Goose 
with one eye. 

He looked at Gray Goose 
with the other eye. 

He snapped his jaws. 

How Sly Fox laughed! 

36 



So Sly Fox shut his eyes. 

He shut his eyes tight. 

He folded his hands. 

Then he said a prayer. 

When Sly Fox folded his hands, 
Gray Goose flew away. 

She flew and flew. 

She flew far, far away. 

At last she came to the lake. 


37 








She swam far out on the lake. 
She swam round and round. 
She swam farther and farther. 
Sly Fox could not get her now. 

When Sly Fox opened his eyes, 
Gray Goose w T as gone. 

He saw her on the lake. 

He hung his head. 

Sly Fox said, 

“It serves me right. 

I should not have listened 
to a goose. 

I have lost my goose. 

I have lost my dinner.” 

Then Sly Fox went home. 


38 


Read and Tell 

What did Sly Fox do? 

Sly Fox caught Gray Goose. 

What did he want to do with her? 

He wanted to eat her. 

What did Gray Goose say 
to Sly Fox? 

She said, 

“Shut your eyes, 

fold your hands, 
and say a prayer, 
before you eat me.” 

What became of Gray Goose? 

Gray Goose flew back to the lake. 

39 



A Riddle 

One, two, three; 

A bonny boat I see; 

A silver boat and all afloat 
Upon a rosy sea. 

One, two, three; 

The riddle tell to me; 

The moon afloat is the bonny boat, 
The sunset is the sea. 


40 






Why Rabbits Have Brown Coats 

King Eagle lived in the woods. 
Some White Rabbits lived 
in the woods, too. 

One day King Eagle said, 

“I am king of the woods. 

You must bow to me. 

You must bow to me 
every time we meet.” 

The White Rabbits said, 

“No! We will not bow to you. 
No, never! 

We will run away.” 

So they ran away. 

41 




They ran and they ran. 

They ran as fast as 
they could run. 

They ran far, far away. 

King Eagle flew 
to a tall tree. 

He called, 

“Come; back! Come back! 

I will make you bow to me. 

Wait till I catch you. 

I will catch you when you go 
to the cabbage patch. 

And I will eat you.” 

But the little rabbits 
were far, far away. 

43 


King Eagle could not get them. 
He waited and waited. 

He looked and looked. 

But they did not come back. 

At last the White Rabbits 
were very hungry. 

They were afraid to go 
to the cabbage patch. 

They were afraid of King Eagle. 

One rabbit was not afraid. 

He thought and thought. 

At last he said, 

“I am hungry. 

I am very hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

44 


I will go to the cabbage patch. 

I will go now.” 

So, what do you think he did? 

He lay down on the ground. 

He rolled over in the dirt. 

He rolled over and over. 

He rolled until his white coat 
was dark. 

Then King Eagle could not see him. 
He went to the cabbage patch. 

He ate his dinner. 

He ate all he wanted. 

Then he ran home. 

Then all the White Rabbits 
rolled over in the dirt. 


45 



They made their white coats dark. 

Then they went 

to the cabbage patch. 

That is why the rabbit’s coat 
is brown. 

King Eagle sat in the tall tree. 

He waited and waited. 

He could not see 

the little rabbits. 

So he flew away. 


46 



Read and Tell 

Who was king of the woods? 

King Eagle was king of the woods. 

Who lived in the woods? 

White Rabbits lived in the woods. 

What did King Eagle say to them? 
King Eagle said, 

“You must bow to me.” 

What did the White Rabbits say? 
The White Rabbits said, 

“We will not bow to you.” 

How did their coats become dark? 
They rolled over in the dirt. 

47 


Hush-a-Bye, My Dolly 

Hush-a-bye, my dolly, 

I pray you, don’t cry. 

I’ll give you some bread 
And some milk by and by. 
Perhaps you like custard. 

Or maybe a tart. 

Then to either you’re welcome, 
With all my heart. 


48 









The Little Maid 

Boy. Little maid, pretty maid, 
Whither goest thou? 

Girl. Down in the meadow 
To milk my cow. 

Boy. Shall I go with thee? 

Girl. No, not now; 

When I send for thee, 
Then come thou. 


49 










North Wind 

It was summer. 

North Wind was in his cave. 

He said, “Oo-oo-oo! 

Let me out! Let me out! 

Please let me out. 

I want to play.” 

Father Wind heard North Wind. 


50 











He said, “No, no, North Wind! 

It is summer. 

You must wait till winter. 

You are too rough. 

You must not go out in summer.” 

“I will be careful,” 
said North Wind. 

“I will not be rough. 

I will not blow hard. 

I will be very careful. 

Please let me out.” 

“You may go a little way,” 
said Father Wind. 

“Do not be gone long.” 

North Wind blew away. 


51 


He blew to White Lily. 

White Lily was nodding 
on her stem. 

North Wind said, 

“Good morning, White Lily! 
Will you play with me?” 

White Lily said, “No, no! 

I must care for my blossoms. 

I can not play to-day.” 

North Wind said, 

“Yes, you will play with me. 
Oo-oo-oo! 

I blow, I blow, I blow! 
Oo-oo-oo!” 

North Wind played and played. 

52 



53 





He blew very hard. 

He blew White Lily this way. 
He blew White Lily that way. 
He broke White Lily’s stem. 
She hung her head. 

She hung her head very low. 
She could not get up. 

North Wind looked 
at White Lily. 

He said, “I wish 

I had not been so rough. 
I will go away. 

I will find some one else 
to play with me. 

I will go to the apple tree.” 

54 


So North Wind blew 
to the apple tree. 

It was full of apples. 

How beautiful they were! 
North Wind said, 

“Good morning, Apple Tree! 
Will you play with me?” 

Apple Tree said, “No, no! 

I must care for my apples. 

I can not play to-day.” 

North Wind said, 

“Yes, you will play with me. 
Oo-oo-oo! 

I blow, I blow, I blow! 
Oo-oo-oo!” 


55 



North Wind played and played. 
He blew very hard. 

He blew Apple Tree this way. 
He blew Apple Tree that way. 
He blew every apple 
from the tree. 

Apple Tree shook all over. 

She shook very hard. 

She hung her head. 

She hung her head very low. 

56 







She could not get up. 

North Wind looked 
at the Apple Tree. 

He said, “I wish 

I had not been so rough. 
I will go away. 

I will find some one else 
to play with me. 

I will go 

to the wheat field .’ 1 
So North Wind blew 
to the wheat field. 

North Wind said, 

“Good morning, Wheat! 

Will you play with me?” 

57 


The Wheat said, “No, no! 

I must care for my grain. 

I can not play to-day. 

Go away.” 

North Wind said, 

“Yes, you will play with me. 
Oo-oo-oo! 

I blow, I blow, I blow! 
Oo-oo-oo!” 

North Wind played and played. 
He blew very hard. 

He blew the Wheat this way. 
He blew the Wheat that way. 
He blew the Wheat 
to the ground. 

58 








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She hung her head. 

She hung her head very low. 

She could not get up. 

North Wind looked 
at the Wheat. 

He said, “I wish 

I had not been so rough.” 

Just then Father Wind called, 
“North wind! 

Come back! Come back! 

You are too rough. 

You must not go out in summer. 
You must wait till winter.” 

So North Wind went back 
into his cave. 


60 


Read and Tell 

Where did North Wind live? 
North Wind lived in a cave. 

How did he play? 

He was very rough. 

Where did he go? 

He blew to White Lily. 

He blew to Apple Tree. 

He blew to the Wheat. 

WTiat did he do? 

He broke White Lily’s stem. 
He blew all the apples 
from the tree. 

He blew the Wheat down. 


61 


’Tis the Wind 


Weather Cock, what makes you go 
Round and round, 

the whole day, so? 

’Tis the Wind whirls me! 

’Tis the Wind twirls me! 

So, to all the world I show 
How the merry Wind doth go. 

Pretty Kite, what makes you fly 
Up above the tree tops high? 

’Tis the Wind lifts me! 

’Tis the Wind drifts me! 

Tosses me in merry play, 

Here and there in every way. 

62 



Windmill, high on yonder hill, 
What makes your sails 
go turning still? 

Tis the Wind loves them! 

’Tis the Wind moves them! 

Helps them turn the millstone 
round, 

So your meal to flour is ground. 

63 



Lady Spring 


Lady Spring came. 

She said, “Go away, Jack Frost! 
Go away, North Wind! 

It is spring. 

“I must tell the flowers. 

I must tell the trees. 

I must tell the animals. 

I must tell the children.” 

So Jack Frost and North Wind 
flew away. 

They flew to their cave. 

Lady Spring 

went into the woods. 


64 



She called to the flowers, 
“Wake up, flowers! 

It is spring.” 

The flowers awoke. 

They shook their sleepy heads. 
Then they said, 

“Thank you, Lady Spring.” 

She called to the trees, 

“Wake up, trees! 

It is spring.” 


65 










The trees awoke. 

They shook their sleepy heads. 

Then they said, 

“Thank you, Lady Spring.” 

She called to the animals, 

“Wake up, animals! It is spring.” 

The animals awoke. 

They shook their sleepy heads. 

Then they said, 

“Thank you, Lady Spring.” 

Then Lady Spring said, 

“Where are the children? 

They are not here. 

Who will tell the children?” 


66 


Lady Spring 

went to Robin Redbreast. 

She said, 

“Robin Redbreast, 

will you please tell the children 
it is spring?” 

Robin Redbreast said, 

“I can not go. 

I must make my nest. 

Ask Sly Fox.” 

Lady Spring went to Sly Fox, 

She said, 

“Sly Fox, 

will you please tell the children 
it is spring?” 


67 


Sly Fox said, 

“I run so fast. 

The children would be afraid 
of me. 

Ask Black Bear.” 

Lady Spring 

went to Black Bear. 

She said, “Black Bear, 

will you please tell the children 
it is spring?” 

Black Bear said, 

“I am so big. 

The children would be afraid 
of me. 

Ask Little Rabbit.” 

68 


Lady Spring 

went to Little Rabbit. 

She said, “Little Rabbit, 

will you please tell the children 
it is spring?” 

Little Rabbit said, 

“Yes, yes! 

I shall be glad to go. 

But I am afraid.” 

Lady Spring said, 

“I will help you. 

Go at night 

when all are asleep.” 

“Very well,” said Little Rabbit. 

“What shall I tell them?” 


Lady Spring said, 

“We will all help. 

I will make nests 

of leaves and grass. 

I will give some flowers.” 

Robin Redbreast said, 

“I will give some eggs.” 

So Little Rabbit hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! 

Hop, hop, hop! 

He went to every house 

where there were children. 

He left a pretty nest 

with flowers and eggs 
on the doorstep. 

70 


» 



71 



The next morning 

the children found 
the pretty nests. 

They found the pretty eggs. 
They found the sweet flowers. 
How happy they were! 

They said, 

“It is spring. 

Now we may go to the woods.” 

72 



















Read and Tell 


Whom did Lady Spring call? 

Lady Spring called the trees, the 
flowers and the animals. 

Whom did she ask to tell the 
children? 

She asked Robin Redbreast, 

Sly Fox, Black Bear 
and Little Rabbit. 

WTiich one told the children? 

Little Rabbit told the children. 

What did he take to them? 

He took a nest with eggs 
and flowers. 


73 



The Weather 


When the weather is wet, 
We must not fret; 

When the weather is cold, 
We must not scold; 

When the weather is warm, 
We must not storm; 

But be thankful together, 
Whatever the weather. 


74 




Billy! Billy! 


Girl. Billy, Billy, come and play, 
While the sun shines bright 
as day. 

Boy. Yes, my Polly, so I will, 

For I love to please you still. 

Girl. Billy, Billy, have you seen 

Sam and Betty on the green? 

Boy. Yes, my Poll, I saw them 
pass, 

Skipping o’er the new-mown 
grass. 

Billy, Billy, come along, 

And I will sing a pretty song. 

75 


Girl. 



The Tree 

A tree grew in a garden. 
It was covered 

with leaf buds. 

It held its branches high. 
How happy it was! 

76 















Jack Frost came 
into the garden. 

He flew round and round. 

He saw the pretty tree. 

He saw the tiny leaf buds. 
How pretty they were! 

Jack Frost said, 

“What a pretty tree! 

What pretty leaf buds! 

I should like to have them.” 

Then he went up to the tree. 
He said, 

“Good evening, Tree! 

You have pretty leaf buds. 
Shall I take them away?” 


77 


The Tree said, 

“No, no, Jack Frost! 

Go away! 

You can not have my leaf buds. 
Leave them alone 

till the blossoms have grown. 
No, no! Go away!” 

So Jack Frost went away. 

The leaf buds grew and grew. 
Soon the Tree was covered 
with sweet blossoms. 

How beautiful it was! 

It made the birds happy. 

They flew from bough to bough. 
They sang their sweetest songs. 

78 


The Wind blew 

into the garden. 

He blew round and round. 
He saw the pretty tree. 

He saw the sweet blossoms. 
How happy he was! 

The Wind said, 

“What a pretty tree! 

What sweet blossoms! 

I should like to have them.” 

Then he went up to the tree. 
He said, 

“Good morning, Tree! 

You have sweet blossoms. 
Shall I take them away?” 

79 


The Tree said, 

“No, no, Wind! Go away! 

You can not have my blossoms. 
Leave them alone 

till the berries have grown 
No, no! Go away!” 

So the Wind went away. 

The blossoms grew and grew. 
Soon the Tree was covered 
with berries. 

How happy it was! 

The sky was blue. 

The sun shone bright. 

The warm wind blew. 

It was summer. 


80 


1 




A Little Girl came 
into the garden. 

She saw the pretty tree. 

She saw the ripe berries. 

She clapped her hands. 

How happy she was! 

The Little Girl said, 

“What a pretty tree! 

What nice, ripe berries! 

I should like to have them.” 

Then she went up to the tree. 
She said, 

“Good morning, Tree! 

You have ripe berries. 

May I gather them now?” 

82 



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The Tree said, 

“Yes, yes, Little Girl. 

You may gather the berries. 
Take all you can see.” 

The Little Girl went up 
to the tree. 

The Tree bent its boughs. 

It bent very low. 

The Little Girl 

gathered the berries. 

She gathered 

all she could carry. 

She gathered all she could see. 
How happy the Tree was! 

The Little Girl was happy, too. 

84 


Read and Tell 

Who came to the Tree? 

Jack Frost, the Wind and the 
Little Girl came to the Tree. 

What did Jack Frost want? 

Jack Frost wanted the leaf buds. 

What did the Wind want? 

The Wind wanted the blossoms. 

What did the Little Girl want? 
The Little Girl wanted the berries. 

What did the Tree say to her? 

The Tree said, 

“Take all you can see.” 

85 



Sleep, Baby, Sleep! 

Sleep, baby, sleep! 

Our cottage vale is deep; 

The little lamb is on the green, 
With woolly fleece, so soft and clean. 
Sleep, baby, sleep. 

Sleep, baby, sleep! 

Down where the woodbines creep; 
Be always like the lamb so mild, 

A kind and sweet and gentle child. 

Sleep, baby, sleep. 

86 




The Owl and the Birds 

Wise Owl lived in the woods. 
Other birds lived 

in the woods, too. 

Wise Owl flew around. 

He saw a tiny oak tree. 

He looked at it 
with one eye. 

He looked at it 
, with the other eye. 

87 







He shook his head. 

He called all the birds. 

Wise Owl said, 

“Who, who, who! 

See that tiny tree. 

It is an oak tree. 

A big vine 

will grow upon it. 

It will grow bird lime. 

It will catch the birds. 

Some bird must pull it up.” 
Then he flew away. 

The birds looked at each other. 
No one pulled up the tree. 
They flew away. 


One day Wise Owl 

saw some flax seed. 

He looked at it with one eye. 
He looked at it 

with the other eye. 

He shook his head. 

He called all the birds. 

Wise Owl said, 

“Who, who, who! 

See those tiny seeds! 

They will grow flax. 

Man will make a net of it. 

He will catch you. 

Some bird must eat the seed.” 
Then he flew away. 


The birds looked 
at each other. 

No one ate the seed. 

So they flew away. 

One day Wise Owl saw a man 
with a bow and arrow. 

He looked at him with one eye. 

He looked at him 

with the other eye. 

He shook his head. 

He called all the birds. 

Wise Owl said, 

“Who, who, who! 

See the man 

with the bow and arrow! 


90 



91 



He will tip his arrow 

with one of your feathers. 
He will shoot you.” 

Then he flew away. 

The birds looked at each other. 
Everything the owl 

had told them was true. 

One bird said, 

“The owl is a wise bird.” 
Another bird said, 

“The owl is a wise bird.” 

All the birds said, 

“The owl is a wise bird.” 

So the owl has been called 
“Wise Owl” ever since. 


92 


Read and Tell 

Where did Wise Owl live? 
Wise Owl lived in the woods. 

What did he see? 

He saw a tiny oak tree. 

He saw some flax seed. 

He saw a man 

with a bow and arrow. 

What did he tell the birds? 
Wise Owl said, 

“Pull up the oak tree. 

Eat the flax seed. 

The man will shoot you.” 

So they called the owl 
“Wise Owl.” 


93 



When V and I together meet, 

We make the number six complete. 

When I and V do meet once more, 
’Tis then we two can make but four. 

And when the V from I is gone, 
Alas! poor I can make but one. 

94 



Mr. Frog and Mrs. Mouse 

One day Mr. Frog went out 
for a walk. 

He put on his high hat. 

He took his cane. 

He stood very tall. 

He was very happy. 

He walked down the road. 
He walked and walked. 

Soon he met Mr. Rat. 


95 




Mr. Rat said, 

“Good morning, Mr. Frog. 

Where are you going to-day?” 

Mr. Frog said, “I am going 
to see Mrs. Mouse.” 

“May I go with you?” 
asked Mr. Rat. 

Mr. Frog said, 

“Yes, you may go.” 

So Mr. Frog and Mr. Rat 
walked on. 

They walked and walked. 

Soon they came 

to Mrs. Mouse’s house. 


They rapped at the door. 

They rapped very loud. 

Rap! Rap! Rap! 

Then they called, 

“Mrs. Mouse, are you in?” 

Mrs. Mouse said, 

“Oh, yes, kind sirs! 

I’m sitting to spin. 

Come right in.” 

So Mr. Frog and Mr. Rat 
went in. 

They went 

into Mrs. Mouse’s house. 

Mrs. Mouse said, 

“Mr. Frog, please sing a song.” 

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“I can not sing to-day/’ 
said Mr. Frog. 

“I have a very bad cold.” 

Mrs. Mouse said, 

“Then I will sing. 

I will sing a new song.” 

So Mrs. Mouse sang 
a sweet song. 

She sang and sang. 

She was very happy. 

Just then Mrs. Cat 

and her kittens came in. 

Mrs. Cat jumped at Mr. Rat. 

And that was the end 
of Mr. Rat. 


99 


The kittens jumped 
at Mrs. Mouse. 

And that was the end 
of Mrs. Mouse. 

Mr. Frog was frightened. 

He took his high hat. 

He took his cane. 

He said, 

“I will go home.” 

So Mr. Frog went home 
as fast as he could go. 

He walked and walked. 

He came to a brook. 

There was no bridge. 

He had to jump over the brook. 

100 





He fell into it. 

Splash! Splash! 

He was so frightened! 

Just then White Duck came by. 
White Duck said, 

“Mr. Frog will make 
a good dinner. 

I will eat him.” 

She took Mr. Frog 
in her big bill. 

And that was the end of Mr. Frog. 

So there was an end 
Of one, two and three. 

The rat, the mouse 
And little froggie. 


102 


Read and Tell 

Who went to see Mrs. Mouse? 
Mr. Frog and Mr. Rat 

went to see Mrs. Mouse. 

What was Mrs. Mouse doing? 
Mrs. Mouse was spinning. 

What happened to Mr. Rat? 
Mrs. Cat ate Mr. Rat. 

What happened to Mrs. Mouse? 
The kittens ate Mrs. Mouse. 

What happened to Mr. Frog? 
White Duck ate Mr. Frog. 


103 



The Toad and the Frog 

“Oh, oh!” said the Toad. 
“I’m hungry, I think. 

To-day I’ve had nothing 
To eat or to drink. 

“I’ll crawl to a garden 
And jump through the pales, 
And there I’ll dine nicely 
On slugs and on snails.” 

104 




“Ho, ho!” quoth the Frog. 
“Is that what you mean? 
Then I’ll hop away 
To the next meadow stream. 

“There I will drink, and 
Eat worms and bugs, too, 
And then I shall have 
A good dinner like you.” 



105 



Two Men and a Tree 


It was summer. 

A big tree grew 

by the roadside. 

It had great, wide branches. 

It was covered with leaves. 

It made a pretty shade. 

How happy it was! 

It nodded its head. 

It waved its branches. 

Two men came by. 

They saw the pretty tree. 

One man said, “I am very tired. 
Let us rest in the shade 
of this tree.” 


106 



The other man said, 

“I am very tired. 

Let us rest in the shade 
of this tree.” 

So they sat down. 

They rested in the shade. 

One man looked up. 

He said, “This tree is no good. 
It has no fruit. 

It does not help man.” 

107 






The tree heard him. 

It shook its leaves. 

It shook all over. 

The Tree said, “0 Mr. Man! 

How can you say that! 

You are sitting in the shade 
of my branches. 

I am good for shade.” 

The man looked up. 

How surprised he was! 

He said, “I did not think of that. 
You are a good tree. 

You are good for shade. 

Next time I will think 
before I speak.” 


108 


Read and Tell 


What time of year was it? 

It was summer. 

How do you know? 

There were leaves on the tree. 
The story says, “It is summer.’ 

Where did the tree grow? 

It grew by the roadside. 

Where were the men? 

The men were walking 
by the roadside. 

What was the tree good for? 
The tree was good for shade. 


Gray Wolf and Sly Fox 

Gray Wolf and Sly Fox lived 
in the woods. 

Gray Wolf 

did not like to work. 

He was big and fat. 

He was lazy. 

Gray Wolf said, 

“I am hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

Sly Fox, get me something to eat.” 

Sly Fox was wise. 

He said, “I know 

where there are some lambs. 

I will get one for you.” 


110 



Gray Wolf said, 

“Very well, but hurry.” 

Sly Fox went to the meadow. 
He got a lamb. 

He gave it to Gray Wolf. 

Then he went away. 

Gray Wolf ate the lamb. 

He said, “That was very good. 

I want some more.” 

But Sly Fox was not there, 
m 













So Gray Wolf went to the meadow. 
He wanted another lamb. 

He made so much noise. 

Mother Sheep heard him. 

Mother Sheep said, 

“Baa, baa! Help, help! 

The Wolf! The Wolf!” 

The farmer heard Mother Sheep. 

He came running to the meadow. 
He beat and drove 
Gray Wolf away. 

Sly Fox came home. 

Gray Wolf was cross. 

He growled and growled. 

He said, “I was hungry. 


112 



113 



I went for another lamb. 

The farmer beat 

and drove me away.” 

Sly Fox said, 

“Do not be so greedy next time.” 

The next day Gray Wolf said, 

“I am hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

Sly Fox, get me something to eat.” 

Sly Fox was wise. 

He said, “I know 

where there are some pancakes. 
I will get some for you.” 

Gray Wolf said, 

“Very well, but hurry.” 

114 


Sly Fox went 

to the farmer’s house. 

He jumped in at the window. 
He took some pancakes. 

He gave them to Gray Wolf. 
Then he went away. 

Gray Wolf ate the pancakes. 
He said, “They are very good. 
I want some more.” 

But Sly Fox was not there. 

So Gray Wolf went 

to the farmer’s house. 

He jumped in at the window. 
He made so much noise 
The farmer’s wife heard him. 


115 


She came running. 

She beat and drove Gray Wolf away. 

Sly Fox came home. 

Gray Wolf was cross. 

He growled and growled. 

He said, “I was hungry. 

I went for more pancakes. 

The farmer’s wife beat 
and drove me away.” 

Sly Fox said, 

“Do not be so greedy next time.” 

The next day Gray Wolf said, 

“I am hungry. 

I want my dinner. 

Sly Fox, get me something to eat.” 
116 


Sly Fox was wise. 

He said, “I know 

where there is some meat. 

I will get some for you.” 

Gray Wolf said, 

“No! I will go with you. 

I like meat. 

You would not bring enough.” 

So Gray Wolf and Sly Fox went 
to the farmer’s cellar. 

They jumped in 

at a small window. 

They ate some meat. 

Then Sly Fox jumped out 
of the window. 


117 


Gray Wolf ate and ate. 

He was greedy. 

Sly Fox came back. 

They both ate some more. 

Then Sly Fox jumped out 
of the window again. 

Gray Wolf ate and ate. 

He was greedy. 

Sly Fox came back. 

Gray Wolf said, 

“Why don’t you eat? 

Why do you jump out 
of the window?” 

Sly Fox said, 

“I want to see if I can get out. 
118 



*••••** • 


»• ••• • •• • 


• • • 


119 























































I do not want to eat too much. 

I want to go home.” 

Gray Wolf ate and ate. 

He made so much noise 

that the farmer heard him. 

He came running to the cellar. 

Sly Fox jumped out 
of the window. 

He ran away. 

Gray Wolf had eaten too much. 

He could not get out 
of the window. 

He was too fat. 

The farmer caught him. 

And that was the end of Gray Wolf. 

120 


Read and Tell 


Where did Sly Fox 

and Gray Wolf live? 

Sly Fox and Gray Wolf lived 
in the woods. 

Who did the work? 

Sly Fox did the work. 

Why didn’t Gray Wolf help? 
Gray Wolf was lazy. 

Which one was wise? 

Sly Fox was wise. 

What became of Gray Wolf? 

The farmer caught Gray Wolf. 
121 



Who Is the Strongest? 

There was a little pond 
in the woods. 

North Wind blew. 

It was cold. 

The cold North Wind made 

an ice bridge over the pond. 
Brown Rabbit came by. 

Hop, hop, hop! 

Hop, hop, hop! 

122 


ran 













Brown Rabbit said, 

“Ice, how strong you are! 

You carry me over the pond.” 

The Ice said, “I am strong.” 
“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Sun can melt you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 
He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Sun. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Sun, how strong you are! 

You can melt the Ice.” 


123 


The Sun said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Cloud can hide you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 
He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Cloud. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Cloud, how strong you are! 

You can hide the Sun.” 

The Cloud said, 

“I am strong.” 


124 





“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Wind can blow you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 
He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Wind. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Wind, how strong you are! 

You can blow the Clouds.” 

The Wind said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

126 


But the Mountain can stop you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 

He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Mountain. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Mountain, how strong you are! 
You can stop the Wind.” 

The Mountain said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Mouse can make 
a nest in you.” 

127 


Brown Rabbit shook his head. 

He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Mouse. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Mouse, how strong you are! 
You can make a nest 
in the Mountain.” 

The Mouse said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Cat cah catch you.” 

128 


Brown Rabbit shook his head. 

He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Cat. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Cat, how strong you are! 

You can catch the Mouse.” 

The Cat said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Dog can chase you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 

He flopped his long ears. 

129 


Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Dog. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Dog, how strong you are! 

You can chase the Cat.” 

The Dog said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Stick can scare you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 
He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

130 


Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Stick. 

Brown Rabbit said, 

“Stick, how strong you are! 

You can scare the Dog.” 

The Stick said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Fire can burn you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 

He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 

131 


He came to the Fire. 


Brown Rabbit said, 

“Fire, how strong you are! 

You can burn the Stick.” 

The Fire said, 

“I am strong.” 

“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Water can quench you.” 

Brown Rabbit shook his head. 
He flopped his long ears. 

Then he hopped away. 

Hop, hop, hop! Hop, hop, hop! 
He came to the Water. 


132 



133 

























Brown Rabbit said, 

“Water, how strong you are! 
You can quench the Fire.” 

The Water said, “I am strong.” 
“Well,” said Brown Rabbit, 

“you are strong. 

But the Ice can cover you.” 

The Water said, 

“Yes, the Ice can cover me. 

But I must run to the sea. 
Good-by.” 

Brown Rabbit looked at the Ice. 
He said, 

“Ice, you are the strongest.” 
Then he hopped away. 

134 


Read and Tell 


How did Brown Rabbit 
cross the pond? 

Brown Rabbit crossed the pond 
on the ice. 

What did he ask? 

He asked who was the strongest. 

Whom did he ask? 

He asked the Ice, the Sun, 
the Cloud, the Wind, 
the Mountain, the Mouse, 
the Cat, the Dog, the Stick, 
the Fire and the Water. 

Who is the strongest? 

The Ice is the strongest. 

135 



My Little Brother 

I love you well, my little brother, 
And you are fond of me; 

Let us be kind to one another, 

As brothers ought to be. 

You shall learn to play with me, 
And learn to use my toys; 
And then I think that we shall be 
Two happy little boys. 

136 








The Old Crow 

There was an old crow 
Who sat upon a clod; 
There’s an end of my song. 
That’s odd! 


137 







ABOUT THE BOOK 

For several years, the author has been rewriting 
many of the best of the old folk tales and fables, so 
common to the English language, and teaching them 
in her primary classes. This list of stories grew to the 
extent that three years ago the little volume Story- 
Book Tales was prepared and published with con¬ 
siderable success. The search for new material con¬ 
tinued until now the author offers her book of similar 
type for primary children, Tales from Story-Town. 

While these stories are old as classics for primary 
children, they are new in form, and are arranged in 
the same fascinating style as the stories in her first 
book. Like the material in Story-Book Tales, every 
lesson has been used in actual classroom work and 
has been carefully graded by the author. Special 
attention has been given to the group of stories that 
can be easily retold and dramatized by the children. 

E. W. Howey 
Superintendent of Schools 
Defiance, Ohio 


139 


AUTHOR’S NOTE 


The aim of this book is to give the little folks easy, 
interesting and instructive reading. The folk tales 
and fables, as well as the poems, have been carefully 
selected and rewritten to bring them within the vo¬ 
cabulary of the first-grade child, while still retaining 
the thought and content of the original. Stories of the 
repeat type have been used throughout. This material 
affords much effective drill to attain surety on the part 
of the child. These selections, also may easily be 
dramatized, thus securing feeling and freedom in oral 
expression. 

The questions and answers at the end of the story 
may be used for language study. The child may read 
the question and answer silently and then repeat to 
the class. 

M. P. A. 


SOURCES OF THE STORY MATERIAL 

The Pig and the Giant ----- A Fable 
Ride Away - Mother Goose Rhyme 

The Greedy Dog - - - Based on Fable from JZsop 

The Owl and the Grasshopper - Based on Fable from JZsop 
Pussy Cat - Mother Goose Rhyme 


140 


The Little Clock - Mother Goose Rhyme 

Sly Fox and Gray Goose - - - - An Old Fable 


A Riddle - Anonymous 

Why Rabbits Have Brown Coats Based on Fable from AS sop 
Hush-a-Bye, My Dolly - Mother Goose Rhyme 

The Little Maid - Mother Goose Rhyme 

North Wind ------ An Old Fable 

Tis the Wind - - - - From the German 

Lady Spring ----- ^4 German Legend 

The Weather ------ Anonymous 

Billy! Billy! - Mother Goose Rhyme 

The Tree - - Based on Bjornson’s poem , u The Tree” 

Sleep, Baby, Sleep! - - - Mother Goose Rhyme 

The Owl and the Birds - - Based on Fable from AS sop 

V and I - - - - - - Mother Goose Rhyme 

Mr. Frog and Mrs. Mouse - Based on Mother Goose Rhyme 


The Toad and the Frog- 
Two Men and a Tree 
Gray Wolf and Sly Fox 
Who Is the Strongest? 
My Little Brother - 
The Old Crow - 


- Mother Goose Rhyme 

- Based on Fable from A sop 

A Folk Tale 

- - A Southern Folk Tale 

- Mother Goose Rhyme 

Anonymous 


141 




























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